A bed mattress led to a fatal crash that involved three trucks and closed a two-mile section of Interstate 83 northbound in York County during the evening rush and throughout the night Thursday, according to police.

Trooper Robert Hicks said two service trucks from S&W Petroleum Services, a business in Dillsburg, were stopping for the mattress after it fell from a vehicle and landed in the right lane near the North George Street Exit.

The driver of a tractor-trailer behind the two service trucks did not realize they were stopping and rear-ended one truck, smashing it into the rear of the other truck and causing a huge fire, Hicks said.

The driver of the service truck struck by the tractor-trailer was killed. Police identified him as 46-year-old Brian Jacobs, of Dillsburg. It was not immediately known whether he died from the impact or from the fire, Hicks said.

The driver of the other service truck, 64-year-old Gordon Myers, of Lewisberry, was taken to York Hospital with serious injuries. The driver of the tractor-trailer, 51-year-old Michael Grandmaison, of Maine, was taken to the hospital with minor injuries.

None of the three vehicles had any passengers.

Police said the crash is still under investigation and the driver who had the mattress fall from his vehicle is cooperating.

I-83 North was shut down between North George Street and the Emigsville exit at around 4:40 p.m. The highway remained closed at 11 p.m.

The crash also slowed southbound traffic for about an hour because one lane was temporarily closed for responding fire trucks.

The Comfort Inn & Suites at 2250 North George Street was evacuated due to the smoke from the accident.